Horse Fence Height

When selecting fencing for your horses, there are several things to keep in mind. Among the items to consider are the durability and maintenance of the various materials as well as the safety and aesthetics of each. While these are the more obvious considerations, one that often receives little attention is the height you will need.

  1. Types of Fencing

    • Wood is the traditional material for horse fencing.

      Among the types of fencing currently available are split rail, wood plank, vinyl, chain link, cable, smooth wire, high tensile, electric or some combination of these. Wood fences of all types can be expensive to install and also tend to require more maintenance. While vinyl fencing is probably the most attractive, it is also probably the most expensive, and some can become brittle over time. Wire fences of any type seem to be less visible than other types, thus causing some safety issues.

    Recommended Heights

    • Regardless of the type of fence selected, special consideration should be given to the height in relation to the horse. According to the Penn State College of Agriculture, a good horse fence should be between 54 and 60 inches high, while an article on the Practical Horsekeeping website suggests the minimum height should be 5 feet or 60 inches. A study by the University of Illinois Extension also recommends a minimum height of 5 feet for most light horse breeds, although it does note that fences between pastures or paddocks housing compatible horses may be 4 1/2 feet.

    Recommended Height

    • While fences used for other types of livestock may be shorter, horses are extremely athletic--especially when scared. Since loose horses can be dangerous to themselves and others, a fence must be tall enough to contain them regardless of the breed. This means that while a fence that is 5 feet tall may be sufficient for an average sized Quarter horse, it may be much too short for an 18 hand warmblood. At the opposite end of the spectrum, fencing for miniature horses or ponies can be lower. The best guide for all breeds is to make sure the fencing is as tall as the horses' withers.

    Considerations

    • While a fence that is 5 feet tall may seem too tall, some horses may attempt to jump shorter fences. Shorter fences may also encourage horses to lean over the fence to obtain grass or reach other horses; this leaning can cause damage to the fence. In addition to deciding on a fence's height, also be sure that the bottom of the fence is at least 10 to 12 inches above ground so that a hoof cannot become tangled or trapped.

    More Considerations

    • Fences that contain stallions and those used to contain mares and foals require special attention. While stallions benefit from daily pasture or paddock turn out, their fencing may need to be taller than the recommended 5 feet; these fences may also need to be stronger. While keeping the fence high enough off the ground to avoid catching hooves is desirable, fences around pastures housing foals should have fences that are no more than 8 inches from the ground to discourage their rolling under it.